![\"Coronation](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEC_270224402-3c4a.jpg\")
\n\t\tRelationships are in trouble and secrets are revealed (Picture: Metro\/ITV)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tRelationships are in trouble and secrets are revealed (Picture: Metro\/ITV)<\/p>\n
ITV<\/a>\u2019s top-rated soap Coronation Street is heading for an explosive new era, with show producer Kate Brooks promising a return to a community feel<\/a>, a major new clan taking over the Rovers, a never-before-done episode format, and a stunt-packed crossover with Emmerdale.<\/a><\/p>\n The iconic pub will get an injection of energy as Catherine Tyldesley reprises her role as Eva the diva<\/a>, flanked by a new boyfriend and a monster-in-law, played by none other than Father Ted star Pauline McGlynn<\/a> \u2013 expect fireworks between those two!<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the ongoing domestic abuse story between Todd and Theo<\/a> will see a harrowing standalone episode, which further explores just how monstrous the gaslighting villain can be, with Kate warning that we have not seen the worst of him yet.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a similar vibe for newcomer Becky, who will be unmasked as another soap villain<\/a> as she pledges to destroy fan favourite Carla. \u2018You will be shocked by what she is capable of,\u2019 warns Kate, meaning Swarla fans are in for a bumpy ride.<\/p>\n Kate also gave an insight into what we can expect for Christmas<\/a>. As well as a focus on the Driscoll family as they settle into the community, there are wedding bells on the horizon for Debbie and Ronnie. And, with Debbie suffering from dementia<\/a>, Kate has offered a promise \u2013 we will have the iconic character until 2027, and she will very much not lose her personality for some time yet, which comes as a relief.<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web Of course, viewers are anticipating big things from the upcoming crossover with Emmerdale,<\/a> which will contain a major stunt and the deaths of key characters. She promises a real treat for soap fans, which will go down in history \u2013 bold claims, but expect some massive twists that will impact both soaps in the months that follow.<\/p>\n And finally, sleazy Carl continues to hide the secrets of his affair with James and his involvement in Tyrone\u2019s accident. But secrets don\u2019t stay that way for long in soapland, and we could expect them to explode towards the end of the year. Dramatic stuff all round!<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a deeper look at what Kate dished up to Metro.<\/p>\n The Driscolls make their mark<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen the episode of their debut, and can I just say they breathe such energy into the Rovers that I am already obsessed with them! Kate Brooks sums it up well, insisting that the characters are ones to fall in love with.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The vibe and the energy and love that\u2019s in that pub now, for me I\u2019m like: \u201cIf I\u2019m going to have a lock-in anywhere, it\u2019ll be in The Rovers and I\u2019ll be there until 5am at least!\u201d she enthused. \u2018Because there\u2019s just so much warmth and joy and happiness in that room with all those people.<\/p>\n \u2018These guys love each other with a real fierceness and a real protectiveness. Obviously, there are niggles, issues, and dramas, as happens to every family, but at the heart of it, there\u2019s a real loyalty to each other.\u2019<\/p>\n Addressing what they will bring to the wider community, the producer continued: \u2018The other thing we wanted to bring to it was that sense of community. Eva\u2019s obviously got links to Toyah and Leanne in the Street, so that familiar face.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Eva\u2019s such an amazing character who\u2019s so, so, so Coronation Street. So to bring her back with family, and with a mother-in-law who is definitely going to ruffle many feathers, it felt like the time was right to bring that kind of dynamic and energy into the pub.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I don\u2019t know about you, but I watched that episode and you just care about every single member of that family straight away. You fall in love with them and going forward you just continue to fall in love with them because they are just delightful. <\/p>\n \u2018And it\u2019s really funny. \u2018There\u2019s some really funny stuff. They\u2019re gifted actors, gifted comedic actors as well so there\u2019s a real energy and buzz in the place. <\/p>\n \u2018There\u2019s so much more to come with them. There\u2019s so much drama. Really family-centric dramas. Friendships are formed, friendships are developed. And you\u2019ve just got this family at the heart of the Street now, they just invite people in warmly into their space, into their pub. <\/p>\n \u2018The pub has never looked more lively and full of life. It\u2019s great, they\u2019re amazing, I love them. I am absolutely in love with the Driscolls.\u2019<\/p>\n Nightmare for Todd<\/p>\n Culminating in a special standalone episode, Todd\u2019s nightmare at the hands of Theo will intensify a great deal, sparking a long-term storyline of abuse that will see him trapped in his partner\u2019s clutches.<\/p>\n Kate explained the situation, telling Metro: \u2018It\u2019s a really important story. By the time the story really gets going, Todd\u2019s in a place where he really feels indebted to Theo because he has done a lot and given up a lot for him. At this point, Theo\u2019s true colours really are revealed. He\u2019s a dark character, he\u2019s really going to manipulate Todd. He\u2019s really good at gaslighting Todd.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018We\u2019re going to slowly see Todd start to strip bare who he is, and his vulnerabilities become very, very prominent in all the episodes, as he struggles to navigate this relationship with this man who he does love, but this man is abusive, he\u2019s violent. He\u2019s controlling. <\/p>\n \u2018He does some really, really vile things to Todd, but Todd\u2019s seeing the goodness in him as well. He\u2019s seeing the moments when they have fun, and the moments when he absolutely goes above and beyond to make Todd feel protected and loved. There\u2019s a generosity there, and he\u2019s charming to his family.<\/p>\n \u2018And Todd\u2019s not really has a steady relationship before as well. So this is all new ground for him. So it was important to show the building blocks of why people find themselves in these situations.<\/p>\n \u2018And we\u2019ve still got quite a bit of a journey to go on with these two. There\u2019s some quite dark episodes, but very important episodes and very raw episodes<\/p>\n \u2018In an upcoming episode, I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s ever told a story in this format in this way. I\u2019ve just watched it, and been quite stunned by it. <\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It\u2019s a hard watch. You know, we\u2019re not rooting for Todd and Theo in any way, shape or form. This story will naturally progress and hopefully Todd will realise what is going on and that this is not acceptable. <\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019re rooting for Todd. We\u2019re rooting for Todd to see the light. As we take in George and Christina and Sarah, all these people who care about and love Todd, they are absolutely oblivious to what\u2019s going on between the two behind closed doors.<\/p>\n \u2018And it\u2019s going to be really interesting to watch what happens when people do get a peek inside at what happens behind closed doors.\u2019<\/p>\n Swarla in crisis<\/p>\n It\u2019s a partnership that has a huge following but they have had nothing but turmoil, it seems. That\u2019s not going to change as not-so-dead Becky determines to get her claws into Becky and Betsy no matter what \u2013 while ensuring Carla is out of the picture. But it\u2019s soon time for Carla to fight back!<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m not going to pull any punches. Becky\u2019s a bit of a villain,\u2019 Kate warned us. \u2018She wants Lisa back. She wants to oust Carla from this very happy home life that she\u2019s created.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018Slowly we\u2019ll start to peel away the layers of Becky and who she is and what she\u2019s actually capable of. At the minute on screen, we\u2019ve only really scratched the surface, but she is capable of many things.<\/p>\n \u2018What I can say is that Carla and Lisa are a brilliant love story. They\u2019re a brilliant soap couple. And I think the journey we\u2019re going to go on with these two, as they navigate this woman who\u2019s been literally dropped from a great height and landed like a bomb inside their house is huge.<\/p>\n \u2018How Carla, who is bolshy and feisty and doesn\u2019t take any messing, how she struggles to comprehend that this woman is at her kitchen island drinking tea, and she\u2019s having to restrain herself from doing anything crazy to oust this woman.\u2019<\/p>\n She added: \u2018There\u2019s loads more to come. It\u2019s a really exciting story. You don\u2019t want to mess with Becky. There\u2019s loads of twists, there\u2019s loads of turns, there\u2019s loads of moments where you watch it and go: \u201cOh my God\u201d. But ultimately, it\u2019s a really enjoyable ride and it\u2019s really exciting.\u2019<\/p>\n Wedding joy for Debbie<\/p>\n Offering assurances that Debbie isn\u2019t going anywhere until 2027, Kate insisted that Debbie has a long journey ahead, and won\u2019t lose her identity for a long time to come. Expect plenty of fun and joy amid the terrifying prospect of her dementia, basically! And part of that is a wedding to Ronnie!<\/p>\n Kate said: \u2018We love Debbie. Debbie is brilliant and she\u2019s so funny, and she\u2019s so full of life and joy. <\/p>\n \u2018She\u2019s making the most of it. She\u2019s obviously planning for a big wedding with Ronnie, which will happen towards the end of the year.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tNew here? Sign up for our Soaps Newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Hi, I\u2019m Duncan Lindsay, Metro\u2019s soaps editor.<\/p>\n If you want to stay up to date on the biggest storylines and news from your favourite cast members, sign up to\u00a0our daily Soaps Newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t From shocking twists to fan-favourite theories, it\u2019s all in your inbox every morning.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018Yeah, it\u2019s going to be a really gorgeous, joyful wedding. It\u2019s very Debbie in its execution. It smacks of Debbie being lovable and a bit out there.<\/p>\n \u2018This story is really in its infancy. And yes, there are some times when she will forget things but she\u2019s living with it. You know, she\u2019s still got a life. She\u2019s not just a person who has dementia. So we are just enjoying Debbie being Debbie.<\/p>\n \u2018The other thing we have as well, which I think is so important to Coronation Street, is Debbie has this real strong group of female friends. We really start to develop and invest in that friendship. Glenda, Sally, Bernie, Christina, Debbie \u2013 this gang of women who are navigating life at the same time. They\u2019re doing it with such humour and such loyalty to each other. Watching those friendships develop, there\u2019s a lot of fun stuff coming up.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s so classic Corrie. The episodes I\u2019m watching at the minute, it\u2019s them on nights out, getting up to mischief. Just really earthy humour with these women. Debbie\u2019s dementia is there, but she\u2019s not in the grips of it. We\u2019re not anywhere near end game.\u2019<\/p>\n A community Christmas <\/p>\n It may seem early to chat about Christmas but in soap terms, filming is already underway and the episodes are not as far as we feel! December will be here before we know it!<\/p>\n So, with that in mind, Kate offered us a taster of what we can expect. <\/p>\n \u2018Christmas Day itself is a real family affair,\u2019 she smiled. And the Driscolls are very much at the heart of Christmas Day. It\u2019s a proper pub Christmas Day. It\u2019s very community-based, very lively. There\u2019s loads going on. Secrets are exposed and whatnot. So it\u2019s a real feel-good episode with a lot of drama as well thrown to the mix.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The stories we\u2019ve got going which build to that, we\u2019ve got Ronnie and Debbie, who are very keen to crack on with the wedding and lots of preparation for that, fun and games in terms of that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018The other stories, which are really kicking off around about that time, we\u2019ve got Carla\/Lisa\/Becky. That really goes up a gear around about Christmas time. There\u2019s a few really big twists that will keep people hooked and keep people watching as they watch this all unfold. So that\u2019s another big story, which will feature heavily around the Christmas period.<\/p>\n \u2018We wanted to really show Todd and Theo\u2019s journey in the lead and the build to Christmas. We\u2019ve got a really special episode, which is just focused primarily on their relationship. But it\u2019s told in a completely different, unique, never-been-done-before, way, which will really pack a punch on many levels.<\/p>\n \u2018And, yeah, they\u2019re the big ones. Obviously, the Websters. Abi, Carl and James, that\u2019s all still happening, too\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n Spectacular crossover<\/p>\n After Christmas, the pace doesn\u2019t slow down at all. Fast forward to January and the introduction of the new ITV soap schedule, which kicks off with that anticipated crossover with Emmerdale. <\/p>\n While holding specific secrets close to her chest, Kate shared: \u2018Filming\u2019s going brilliant. The actors are loving it, because it\u2019s so different and unique from what they\u2019ve ever done before.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It\u2019s just dead exciting. As a soap fan, the idea of sitting down watching your two favourite shows with all your favourite characters interact in this massive, unmissable piece of telly, it\u2019s just amazing.<\/p>\n \u2018Even if I didn\u2019t work in soap I\u2019d be so excited for this because it\u2019s just a soap fan\u2019s dream. I think what we\u2019ve done really well is make sure that the episode encapsulates what makes both shows unique, but also that universal appeal that soap is brilliant telly and it\u2019s soaptastic.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s been quite a feat logistically to get everything in the right place. So I just think, as a testament to how hard and how passionate all the people are behind the scenes, everyone has put their heart and soul into it.\u2019<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsupports HTML5
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Pauline](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/EMBARGO_CORO_DRISCOLL_PRICE-edfe.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Driscolls arrive with a bang! (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Eva](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_261185654-ff0f.jpg\")
\n\t\tEva will bring huge energy to the Rovers (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Todd](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/06_10_coro_theo_todd_02-e0f3.jpg\")
\n\t\tTheo\u2019s true colours are exposed (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Theo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_249524938-c2ff.jpg\")
\n\t\tA special episode is planned to showcase the brutal reality of the abusive relationship (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_268771469-ca32.jpg\")
\n\t\tNot to be messed with! (Picture: Metro\/ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Carla](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/13_10_coro_carla_lisa_01-8f44.jpg\")
\n\t\tCan the beloved Swarla make it? (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Debbie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/06_08_coro_debbie_ronnie_04-bfcb.jpg\")
\n\t\tDebbie\u2019s wedding will be oh so Debbie (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/duncan-lindsey-081b.webp\")
\n\t\tFind out more about the biggest stories in soapland with our daily newsletter<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1_The-Rovers-Return-gets-a-dusting-of-snow-on-the-Coronation-Street-set-November-2014-For-MEN-Media-.jpeg\")
\n\t\tThere will be some joy to be had this Christmas in Corrie (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_268753723-519c.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe crossover will be a treat for soap fans (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Lisa exiled from Weatherfield as her plot with Betsy is exposed <\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Theo flies into a rage with his ex in Coronation Street and huge consequences follow<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: All 29 Coronation Street pictures for next week as intense showdowns are confirmed<\/a><\/p>\n